I. snatch 1 /snætʃ/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Origin: Perhaps from Middle Dutch snacken ; ⇨ ↑ snack 2 ]
1 . to take something away from someone with a quick, often violent, movement SYN grab :
The thief snatched her purse and ran.
snatch something away/back from somebody
Keith snatches toys away from the other children.
2 . to take someone away from a person or place, especially by force:
Vargas was snatched from his home by two armed men.
3 . to quickly get something, especially sleep or rest, because you do not have very much time SYN grab :
I managed to snatch an hour’s sleep on the train.
snatch at something phrasal verb
to quickly put out your hand to try to take or hold something:
Jessie snatched at the bag but I pulled it away.
II. snatch 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a snatch of conversation/music/song etc a short part of a conversation, song etc that you hear:
I could hear snatches of the conversation from across the room.
2 . in snatches for short periods:
I only slept in snatches during the night.
3 . when someone quickly takes or steals something:
reports of a bag snatch
4 . taboo informal a very offensive word for a woman’s sex organ. Do not use this word.